Fordham Law Mourns Passing of Adjunct Professor Joseph T. McLaughlin

January 18, 2012

The Fordham Law community is saddened by the death of Adjunct Professor Joseph T. McLaughlin. He taught domestic and international alternative dispute resolution at Fordham.

McLaughlin pioneered ADR use in the financial services industry. As a neutral, he worked extensively on banking and investment issues worldwide, with a focus in recent years on the Far East. He used his conflict resolution expertise as an arbitrator and a neutral in accountants’ liability matters, class actions, mass torts, corporate governance issues, and securities and governmental disputes.

McLaughlin rose to prominence in the legal profession as a partner and later head of litigation at Shearman & Sterling in New York. He left the firm in 1997 after nearly 30 years to join Credit Suisse First Boston as Executive Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs for four years.

In 2007, he became a mediator and arbitrator at JAMS, the largest private alternative dispute resolution provider in the world. He later joined Bingham McCutcheon’s New York office as of counsel in addition to his work as neutral.

He served on the board of directors for the Institutional Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR) for nine years and led CPR’s Executive Advisory Committee for five years. He was the chair of the organization’s Budget, Audit, and Finance Committee and is credited with creating CPR’s annual fall Corporate Leadership Award dinner in 2004.

McLaughlin was a prolific advocate for best conflict resolution practices as an academic, writer, and speaker. Before immersing himself in conflict resolution practices, he used his litigation advocacy and skills for significant pro bono projects.